Symptoms of Leprosy

• Spots of hypopigmented skin- discolored spots which develop on the skin
  
• Anaesthesia(loss of sensation) in hypthese opigmented spots can occur as well as hair loss
• "Skin lesions that do not heal within several weeks of and injury are a typical sign of leprosy." (Sehgal 24)

• "Enlarged peripheral nerves, usually near joints, such as the wrist, elbow and knees."(Sehgal 24)
  
• Nerves in the body can be affected causing numbess and muscle paralysis
  • Claw hand- the curling of the fingers and thumb caused by muscle paralysis
  • Blinking reflex lost due to leprosy's affect on one's facial nerves; loss of blinking reflex can eventually lead to dryness, ulceration, and blindness
  • "Bacilli entering the mucous lining of the nose can lead to internal damage and scarring that, in time, causes the nose to collapse."(Sehgal 27)
  • "Muscles get weaker, resulting in signs such as foot drop (the toe drags when the foot is lifted to take a step)"(Sehgal 27)

• "If left untreated, leprosy can cause deformity, crippling, and blindness. Because the bacteria attack nerve ending, the terminal body parts (hands and feet) lose all sensations and cannot feel heat, touch, or pain, and can be easily injured.... Left unattended, these wounds can then get further infected and cause tissue damage." (Sehgal 27)
  • As a result to the tissue damage, "fingers and toes can become shortened, as the cartilage is absorbed into the body...Contrary to popular belief, the disease does not cause body parts to 'fall off'." (Sehgal 27)

Distinct Symptoms of Tuberculoid, Lepromatous, and Borderline Leprosy

Tuberculoid Leprosy - the "benign" version:

• Light red or purplish skin lesions

• "Patients usually have one or a few(normally fewer than five) hypopigmented lesions with well-defined borders." ( Sehgal 28)

• "This form affects the peripheral nerves and, sometimes, the surrounding skin, on the face, arms, legs, and buttocks. Sensory loss is frequently observed around the lesions." (Sehgal 29)

• Granulomas( inflamed nodules caused by the infection) can form in the nerves

Lepromatous Leprosy- the more severe form:

• "Skin lesions appear as yellow or brown nodules (protuberances), which are penetrated by many blood vessels." (Sehgal 29)
• Multiple papules(pockets of skin filled with pus and bacteria) grow symmetrically on the skin
• Skin thickens around ears and face and, in extreme cases, people may lose eyelashes and/or eyebrows
• "When someone suffers from disfiguring facial features, this condition is known as leonine facies." (Sehgal 29)

Borderline Leprosy - the medium

• Single or multiple skin lesions with indistinct borders
• "Can cause maximum nerve damage, as multiple nerves are involved. Nerve involvement is earlier and faster than in the lepromatous form." (Sehgal 30)
• This form of leprosy is only categorized by certain organizations such as "Ridley and Jopling"